Ramnad estate facts for kids

The Ramnad Estate was a big area of land in India that was controlled by local rulers from 1801 to 1949, when India was under British rule. It was located in what is now the Ramnad district. The main town for this estate was Ramanathapuram.

The story of the Ramnad Estate began in the late 1600s with a kingdom started by a ruler named Raghunatha Kilavan. Later, in 1803, the British changed this kingdom into a "Zamindari." A Zamindari was like a large estate where a local ruler, called a Zamindar, managed the land and collected taxes for the British government.

The male rulers of Ramnathapuram were known by a special title: Sethupathi. This means "protector of the bridge." The bridge they protected was the famous Rama's Bridge, which is a legendary bridge. Female rulers were called Nachiyar.

About the Estate

The Ramnad Estate was very large, covering about 5,450 square kilometers (which is about 2,104 square miles). In 1901, nearly 724,000 people lived there. It was one of the biggest and most populated estates in the Madras Presidency, which was a large administrative area under British rule.

The Zamindar of Ramnad had to pay a large amount of money, like a tax, to the British government every year. For example, in 1903-1904, they paid about 3.75 lakh rupees.

The Sethupathis: Rulers of Ramnad

The rulers of Ramnad, known as Sethupathis, had different roles over time:

Early Chieftains

Before becoming independent kings, some Sethupathis were chieftains who worked under the larger Madurai Nayak kingdom. They managed the Ramnad area for the Nayaks.

• Sadaikka Thevar Sethupathi (1590-1621)
• Dalavai Sethupathi (1637-1659)

Independent Kings

Later, the Sethupathis became independent kings, ruling their kingdom on their own.

• Raghunatha Kilavan (1670–1708): He was important because he established the Kingdom of Ramnad.
• Muthuramalinga Sethupathi I (1760-1794)

Rulers under British Control

After 1803, the British took more control, and the Ramnad Kingdom became a Zamindari. The rulers were still called Sethupathis or Nachiyars, but they operated under the British government.

• Mangaleswari Nachiyar (1795-1807): She was a female ruler who became the first Zamindar.
• Bhaskara Sethupathy (1889–1903): He was a well-known Raja of Ramnad during the British period.
• Raja Rajeswara Sethupathi (1903–1929)
• Rajeswari Nachiyar (1979-): The current Nachiyar.

Images for kids

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  Ramnad Palace front view

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  Ramalinga Vilasam, built by Raghunatha Kilavan

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  Raja of Ramnad Bhaskara Sethupathy (1889–1903)